Astarael42 — Roleplayer Guild

Brisa walked. And walked. And walked. She had never imagined that travel would be like this. When Autry had talked of adventuring there were…well…adventures. She never mentioned hours of trudging and sore feet and sore hands and aching back and bruised shoulders.

She was a giant walking hurt right now and the only way she was going on was to keep reminding herself to just keep putting one foot in front of the other. When they stopped for a brief rest Brisa flopped.

Her fingers were still holding onto the lead rope for her goat when she flopped onto the ground with a unceremonious thump. She didn’t even bother to find a place to sit alongside the others on the oak tree, just leaned her back against the roots of the tree, closed her eyes, and whimpered slightly.

She didn’t ever remember walking that far, even when she went collecting with Autry they stopped regularly and though the distance was the same it somehow seemed easier. The goat munched on the grass nearby, ignoring Brisa. It was not bothered in the slightest.

The lunch was simple enough but she felt immensely better for it, though still incredibly sore. She wished she had thought to bring Autry’s herbs though she wouldn’t know the first thing about what to use for what ailment. She had studied enchantment not healing.

When Dakin nudged her she looked up, she hadn’t realized she had been dozing.

“Hmm. Ohh. Let me take a look.” Brisa was not at all bothered by the request, it was actually uncommon to find children who could read and or write. In fact it was uncommon to find adults who could. Most focused on more “useful” pursuits.

She hauled herself up, wincing at feeling the sores on her feet, and sat down next to Dakin to look at the map. It was gibberish. Lots and lots of gibberish. She frowned.

“I don’t know. It’s not in common.” She was about to turn away then she realized that some of the letter combinations looked familiar. Like when she first learned to read and understand magic she had some talent at quickly recognizing patterns in language.

“Wait” she said and turned back. She grabbed her bag and pulled out her carefully wrapped spellbook. She pulled the paper out that she had so carefully transcribed the words written by the dead bodies. “It’s them!”

She was excited now, pain and tiredness forgotten.

“Whoever hurt the town. This is the same language. Look” she pointed to the writing and then to the writing on Dakin’s map. “Could this be wherever they, it, the magic, whatever comes from or is going to? Would Dorn have known and drawn it out like this? I can figure this out. We have to figure this out." Her voice became softer and her eyes focused inward liek she was thinking. She kept talking however. "Something tells me whatever the words are, here and on Dakin’s maps, they are important. I need more though…something to compare it too…something I already know.”

She was talking entirely to herself now. She had already folded the paper back up and slipped it back in her spellbook. She was wrapping the important book up now and talking as she did so. She had seen the others rising to leave, and Ronin packing his horse back up, and knew she didn’t have time to do what she needed to now.

“Later can I copy the words Dakin? That way I can try and figure out what they mean?”

She picked up the lead to Daisy, her goat, and then at the last moment realized maybe she wouldn’t have to carry her shoulder bag of books and the few odds and ends she had. Daisy could. She began to carefully tie her bag to Daisy’s back.

How much longer she wondered. She was not an adventurer and she didn't know what she was doing. At the moment she was just following the others and she was too sore and tired to do otherwise.

Roll up, roll up, cherries and all!
Welcome, welcome to De’ Seil Carnival!
Where you’ll see tricks, magnificent tricks none have seen before
You will partake in games and promise we do, that they are not rigged.
You’ll kiss a princess – and a true princess she is
You’ll be told the future and indeed it is precise
You may even have you inner most desired wish granted by our Wish Master
And if you’re very lucky, you may even see a true, living, breathing, dancing angel from the heavens.
So come, come, come in and play with us
For all are welcome at De’ Seil Carnival.

*************

Nate held his father’s hand as they bought their tickets to the carnival. He was almost bouncing in place. This was the most entertaining thing they had done in many years, for so long they had stayed home the atmosphere in the house growing dourer and dourer over time. It had been several days since he was even out of the house. He had been spending more and more time at his mother’s bedside, reading and talking to her. He wasn’t normally a melancholy person, but being in a sickhouse all day, everyday had begun to wear on him in ways he didn’t even realize.

It looked like his head was on a swivel as he turned this way and that trying to see everything at once. Hawkers called here and there, the great sign above the entrance glimmered in the growing dark, and the smells of all the delightful carnival foods filled the air. He tried to keep his excitement contained but he was wanting to do everything at once.

“Lets go see the magic show dad” he said standing on tip toe looking for a sign to tell him where to go. There had to be a magic show. There were always magic shows at carnivals. He loved magic, he practiced it all the time. Well all the time when he had free time which hadn’t been much recently.

He began to drag his father towards the center of the carnival.

Nalia, sixteen and beyond the childish behaviors of holding a parent’s hand. She walked just far enough away from her father to still be “cool.” She couldn’t help herself smiling as she saw how happy Nate was. He had been very withdrawn lately, more so than usual. This was obviously just what he needed. Without thinking she slipped over to Nate’s other side, a smile on her face as she walked with him.

Her father, on the other hand, she mostly ignored. She had grown to hate him. All teenagers hated their parents but in an occasional brief moment of self awareness she realized she hated him for other things. For his ignoring them. For his obsession with doting on their mother to the extent of ignoring everything. For his treating Nate like a servant boy and not a son.

She had grown close to her brother since their mother’s illness. No one else seemed to care about him and he was often picked on by locals. She was the only one who cared about that and stood up for him.

Her steps were light now as she stuffed her hands in her jacket and trotted along with Nate and her father. Tonight at least the worries were a thing of the past and she could see wonders and excitement that would even make a “cool” sixteen year old girl put aside her angst and enjoy herself.

“No” she said lightly to her brother, knowing she was just arguing for the sake of form. He knew it too and he grinned impishly at her. “You wanna see the acrobats right?” he said taking a wild guess. He knew his sister. She loved dancing, gymnastics, figure skating, and basically anything along those lines. Before their mother got so sick she had been able to take gymnastic classes and Nalia had loved it. Everything except the recitals—she didn’t like performing for others.

Nalia nodded but tousled her brothers hair.

“We can go to the magic show if you want brat” she said lightly and her father glanced sternly at her. He opened his mouth to say something but Nate interrupted him.

“Naw” he said lightly and grabbed Nalia’s hand with his free one. “Lets go see the girly stuff. C’mon dad!” He had spotted the tent and the banner advertising Ty’s act. It looked exciting, almost as exciting as a magic show. He wouldn’t ever admit that to his sister though.

********

Nalia sat in the bleachers, everything around her forgotten as she watched Ty’s graceful movements. The girl was beautiful, stunning, and her movements looked so natural. Nalia was amazed, stunned, and thoroughly enraptured.

She clapped vigorously with the others in the area at every chance and she held her breath each time it looked like Ty might fall. She wouldn’t stand out, every little girl wanted to be an acrobat at one point in their life. Of course she was older than most, her dream of being a great acrobat had never died, despite the fact that any time she was forced to perform in public she came close to vomiting and always always screwed something up.

At the end of the performance Nalia was one of the first to spring up, clapping vigorously when Ty’s performance was over. She was startled when she felt Nate grip her hand again and looked down at her brother. She didn’t have to look far, he was getting tall fast, but for now she could still claim the big sister thing and look down on him. His eyes too were sparkly with wonder and he grinned at her.

“Pretty wasn’t she” he said softly. “You look like her Lia”

He never realized the impact those words had on his sister, to him Ty was like Nalia in that both were graceful and beautiful. Beyond that the similarities ended, but Nalia was his sister and he admired her greatly. As he admired Ty’s performance. It was almost magical in itself.

*************

Nate got to pick the next act they went to. This entire time their father had remained silent, his thoughts far away, and he seemed not to take any enjoyment from the show. Nate never noticed and even Nalia stopped noticing after a time, there was so much to see and do she almost forgot how miserable things had been at home.

Nate drug them, though both Nalia and her father only protested as a show, towards a “fire act.”

Nalia didn’t know what to expect; the small person who jumped up on stage surprised her. She didn’t look older than Nalia. But soon Nalia found herself laughing as Red performed. She didn’t bother to try and figure out how the girl performed her tricks, she assumed it was like her brother’s tricks and sleight of hand and other things. An act but one that was so flawlessly performed that she was drawn into the excitement effortlessly. She had never seen anything like it.

When the girl finished Nate jumped up and down clapping vigorously.

“Did you see Lia? She wasn’t much older than me. Think I could do that? Dad can I buy fire swallowing stuff?” They didn’t stay but Nate talked non stop about becoming a fire eater as they left. In fact it was more talking than he had done in ages, Nalia was quite surprised. Her father on the other hand didn’t even notice.

He was thinking of something quite different, a rumor he had heard. It couldn’t be true. It was impossible. But this was Azure and he learned long ago that there were many improbably things but few impossible things here.

“Take this” he said shoving some money at Nalia “And go play some games or see another show. I want to go talk to someone.”

Nalia stared at her father, he never just gave them money. She didn’t have time to ask anything before he disappeared.

*****

The children’s father tromped off seeking the answer to the rumor he had heard. It couldn’t be true, but he had to try. He had never given up hope but without magical intervention his wife would surely die and he would have no one left.

He never even considered his children, it had been so long since he had even felt as if they were part of his family. Today had been different, he had almost felt the same wonder they had, but only almost. The shadow over his head was too strong for their life and love to break through. So he found his way to Mr. Seil.

***

Nate and Nalia wandered for a time, they used the money to play a few games. They never won anything, but it was fun and they enjoyed all the life bubbling around them. The last of their money they spent on treats, cakes and roasted popcorn, and they munched happily as they walked.

Soon they realized that their father was still absent, having truly vanished and they began to search for him. Nalia was unconcerned, her father was a bit of a moron and would likely be found in some stupid place. Nate on the other hand was growing desperate.

It was pure chance that they spotted him, standing outside one of the best tents in the place. Nate ran up to his father who immediately smiled and reached down to pat him on the head. Nate saw nothing wrong with that. Nalia caught the gleam in the man’s eye and was immediately suspicious.

“Nalia wait here” said the man “I need to introduce Nate to someone.”

Nalia frowned and was about to protest but Nate was ushered inside. Less than a moment later the father exited the tent and looked to the girl.

“I apprenticed Nate to the carnival master. Come on we are going home.”

Nalia stood, stunned, as her father walked off.

Apprenticed Nate?? she thought then she raced after her father who was walking faster than she’d ever seen him.

She caught up with him enough to catch his mutterings.

“cant be true. Have to try. Can she be well? Must get home. My darling wife.”

Nalia didn’t put it together, what the hell had the man done?!?!? She had always felt a bit of hate towards him but now it came crashing down. He had sold his son. Not into slavery perhaps but this was bad enough. How dare he??

With the temper of a small she-cat she confronted her father. It was loud, angry, and she didn’t give the man a chance to speak. Just cussed him out, called him the foulest names she could think of, and said she was not his daughter anymore. Then she spun gracefully on a heel and stormed back towards the carnival. She had to find her brother.

***

In the dark tent Nate stood there looking at the man he had just been contracted to. He was afraid. More so than he had ever been. But the man had asked him if he wanted to save his mother.

Nate would do anything to save his mother and said so. That had been the end of it. Before Nate had time to blink his life had been signed into servitude. It wasn’t until his father had left, and Mr. Seil began to explain just what he had been contracted into that Nate realized the full impact of what had happened.

His mother would life, her illness was healed even now, but Nate was trapped. Bound to a contract to destroy others in order to save himself. He had never even imagined such a thing was possible but if it would save his mother…he swallowed hard and ran out of the tent.

****
Nate nearly knocked over Nalia as she was coming back to camp. He took one look at his sister, spotting the telltale signs of anger in her eyes, and the fact that his father was not with her and knew the truth. His father hadn’t had a single regret, Nate didn’t either, not really but still it would have been nice to know the man cared.

He wrapped his arms about his sister and hugged her for all he was worth, burying his face in her jacket.

“Mom’s better now Lia” he said softly, voice muffled. “He made mom better. But I gotta stay here. It’s bad Lia. Really bad. But mom will be ok. Tell her I love her and miss her and will think of her every day.”

Nalia held her brother as she trembled with anger. She didn’t realize what the contract entailed but she was furious at the man would bind a child. Both men actually. She held her father and Mr. Seil equally at fault. So what if her mother’s illness were cured, didn’t they care enough that Nate was still just a child?

She had to take care of her brother however and she knew what that meant.

“I’m not leaving you Nate” she said softly disengaging him. “I’m gonna stick with you no matter what.”

“You can’t stay Lia” he said softly “I got a contract and everything. It’s magic Lia. He healed mom with magic. But I gotta stay.”

“If you stay I stay” she said simply. “I’ll go talk to whoever is in charge. Stay here Nate. Wait for me.”

Nate nodded and looked around at the place that was now to be his home. Where before it was delightful and filled with wonder now it was dark, dirty and struck fear in his heart. Everything had changed, forever. He would never be as he was. He knew that now as deeply as he knew his name and that his mother was well.

It is worth it. It is worth it he kept telling himself over and over as he stood looking for a friendly face, any friendly face, in the darkness. All he saw were happy loving families, delighted children, and busy carnival workers. How could such a place ever be home, how could he ever be a part of it.

****

Nalia stormed into Mr. Seil’s tent spitting piss and vinegar. She was furious and she vented her rage. But she was not in there long. She knew what she had to do to remain her brother’s protector and she didn’t hesitate when the quill was slid her way.

Nalia Armstrong she signed with an angry flourish. There now she was bound too.

She left the tent and joined her brother and they headed off to find out what to do next. Nalia shed a couple tears, but her grip on her brother never loosened and she didn’t bother to shrug them off. “There now” she said to him, her voice firm. “Now I get to stay with you.”

Astarael42 Member

Status

Bio

Most Recent Posts